Hydraulic safety pipe line repair device



May 28, 1935. H, E 2,002,577

HYDRAULIC ,SAFETY PIPE LINE REPAIR DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1931 PatentedMay 1935 warn-:1) STATES PATENT, OFFICE j s 7 2,002,517 mnamc sum! rrrnlmm: mm

.' DEVICE 'In pipe-lines which" convey oil or gas, and

- while alive, leaks frequently occur, and especially at the weldedjoints, and up to the present time, no means or devices have beenproduced to mend or weld these breaks, without first emptying orreducing the line pressure.

This invention is therefore directed to means for mending such breaks orleaks while the line is alive, and the invention includes means forprimarily sealing the leak preparatory to welding by electric welding.

Said invention therefore constitutw both a pressure seal, and means tohold the encasing means during the welding operation.

The invention is shown in detail on the sheet of drawings, accompanyingand forming a part of the, specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the clamplng means, the weldingclamp, and an end view of the pipe, and also there is shown a pressuregauge to determine the pressure in the sealing device.

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the pressure device, including aremovable stem, gauge, and means for delivering the pressure in thesealing device.

In the views, like references will indicate like parts.

In Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I indicates a pipe in the line, and isshown in Figure 2 as inserted into the bell 5 of an adjoining pipe, and

the pipe and bell 5 are welded together at 6. As-

I0, of metal which not only take over this tubing,

but are formed to fit both the pipe 4 and the bell 5, as can be clearlyseen in Figure 2for instance, by way of examples if the, line is a 12inch belljoint line, the bore of the shield on the left hand sideofFigureZ will be 12 and inches, while that on the right hand side ofthe view will be 13 and inches, and if butt-joints or collar is used,the bore will be 12 and inches on both sides. Or if preferred, thesections 9 and "I can be made sufliciently long to set entirely over abell-joint, a collar joint, or a butt-weld joint, in which case, thebore on both sides would be 12 and 54 inches. These shields 9 and Iapproximate each other at their ends, after being placed about the ele-5 ment I, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, but leave between each section 9and I0 suflicient space to receive the welding material H and I2, and,as seen, to prevent the welding material from buming the element 1, eachshield on one of its inner 10 edges is provided with an extending lipI3, in Figures 1 and 2, and which slip under the adjoining shield andalso act as guides for the alignment of the shields 9 and Ill. Theselips not only provide protection to the tube I, but also become a partof the weld.

To the outside of the shields 9 and ID, a pair of clamping irons II andii are placed each having ears l8 and I1, into one of each of which isjournalled a bolt l8, while the companion ear is bifurcated as at I! toreceive said bolt, and the nut 20 being turned will clamp these ironstightly about the sections 9 and Ill and the element I.

To inflate the element I after application, a valve structure isprovided, which may be understood by reference to Figure 3. A connectionof a four-way-branch type is designated by 2| and is provided with astem 22 which passes through the clamping irons and into threadedopenings in the shields 9 and I0, and this stem being externally 80screw-threaded, receives a bushing, also externally screw-threaded. Thetube or casing is overlapped about the pipes l and 5, as seen in Figure3, and to the bushing 23, a clamp 24 is applied for holding theoverlapping ends 25 and 26 ofthe tubing I. The interposition of a washer21 provides a cushion for the connection, at this point. The clamp 24has a depending bushing 28, with a perforated base 29 upward from whichis a screwthreaded nipple 30. Into this nipple 30 is screwthreaded astud 3| formed as a part of the perforated plate 32, having perforations33 to register at will with the perforations 34 in the bottom of thebushing aforesaid. Into a slot in the stud 3| extends a reduced portion35 of a stem 36 which passes upward and through the parts and theconnection 2|, terminating in a handle 31.

1 From the connection 2| extends to lateral branches providing for thereception of pipes 38 and 39, the former to reach to a check valve notshown, and the latter to a pressure gauge.

Pressure is admitted through 38, and connection 2| down in and through22, and eventually out through ports 34 and 33, intothe element I. whenthe latter is inflated, stopping the leak,

the stem is turned, turning also the plate 32,- and causing the portsnot to register which holds the pressure in the element 1 and the member36 may now be withdrawn. Before this is done, however, assuming thealive line pressure to be 500 pounds, the gauge ought to show 510 or 520pounds. This will stop the leak.

The welding may be performed now with safety, and when the weldingoperation is complete or even before, the jamb-nut 4! may be loosenedand the stem 42 withdrawn by screwing it outwardly anticlockwise fromthe bushing 23, but after the withdrawal of the element 36. v

The welding banks at each intersection between the shields 9 and I0 andthe pipe surfaces is shown as at 43. After the removal of the valve stem22, from the bushing 23, a pipe plug may be inserted in its place toinsure the maintenance of pressure when the tube 7 finally deteriorates.

Having set forth the invention I claim:

The method of repairing a broken pipe-line having an interior pressuregreater than atmospheric pressure comprising disposing a flexible tubingover the broken portion of the pipe, disposing an enclosing ring overthe tubing, applying clamping means to said ring, inflating said tubingwith pressure higher than the pressure of the pipe, and welding theedges of said ring to the wall of the pipe.

- HERBERT H. ICE.

